Materials Science and Engineering

Focusing on fundamentals of various materials and the interactions between them

Does a career in digital electronics and materials technology or engineering interest you? Look to the Materials Science and Engineering program at Alfred University. This challenging program will provide exposure to the concepts relating to multi-material and composite technologies, as well as composite material interactions with living biological systems for students interested in the focus of biomedical materials science.

Program Snapshot

School/Division
Inamori School of Engineering
NYS College of Ceramics

Campus Locations
Main Campus - Alfred, NY

Major
Materials Science and Engineering (BS)

Double Major
Double Major option(s) offered.

Minor
Materials Science and Engineering

Program Contact
Scott Misture

[email protected]

607-871-2438

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A hands-on curriculum that introduces students to materials science during the first year.

Research Opportunities

Plenty of opportunities for undergraduate research and access to state-of-the-art research facilities.

Showcase Skills

A senior-thesis project that allows you to showcase your research skills and demonstrate your creative talents.

What do Materials Scientists and Engineers do?

Advanced materials are critical to nearly every modern technology and play an important role in solving today's most challenging energy and environmental problems. Materials Science and Engineering is the broad interdisciplinary field that uses the principles of chemistry, physics, engineering, and biology to develop better materials. Materials scientists and engineers study the structures and properties of all types of materials -- ceramics, glass, metals, polymers, and semiconductors -- and devise new ways to make them using nanotechnology and advanced manufacturing techniques.

What Will You Study?

During your first year, you'll take Introduction to Engineering and two Engineering Explorations Lab in addition to foundation courses in math, chemistry, and physics. Over the next few years, a blend of classroom and laboratory experiences will help you define your unique interests in this very broad field. In your senior year, you'll conduct independent research with a faculty advisor - on topics ranging from high-strength metal alloys to polymer recycling to oxide nanosheets for generating hydrogen from water.

What Will You Do After Graduation?

Graduates are prepared for careers as engineers, scientists, and managers in a wide range of materials-related industries. Many of our graduates pursue advanced degrees to work as researchers in industry, government laboratories, and academia.

Undergraduate Full-Time Enrollment (from Fall Census)
Major	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
Major Biomat. Eng./Biomed Mat. Eng.	2022 24	2021 25	2020 32	2019 30	2018 31	2017 33	2016 34
Major Ceramic Engineering	2022 35	2021 39	2020 44	2019 61	2018 68	2017 68	2016 63
Major Electrical Engineering	2022 N/A	2021 N/A	2020 N/A	2019 N/A	2018 N/A	2017 N/A	2016 N/A
Major Glass Engineering Science	2022 11	2021 11	2020 19	2019 23	2018 24	2017 15	2016 15
Major Materials Sci and Engineering	2022 19	2021 31	2020 38	2019 36	2018 48	2017 48	2016 48
Major Mechanical Engineering	2022 119	2021 145	2020 167	2019 194	2018 168	2017 182	2016 185
Major Renewable Energy Engineering	2022 19	2021 27	2020 40	2019 44	2018 29	2017 30	2016 44
Major Undecided Engineering	2022 18	2021 17	2020 34	2019 22	2018 26	2017 26	2016 37
Major Non-Degree	2022 0	2021	2020 0	2019 0	2018 2	2017 4	2016 4
Major Unduplicated Headcount	2022 245	2021 295	2020 374	2019 410	2018 394	2017 402	2016 426

B.S. Graduates (August Through May)
Major	2022-2023	2021-2022	2020-2021	2019-2020	2018-2019	2017-2018	2016-2017
Major Biomat. Eng./Biomed Mat. Eng.	2022-2023 3	2021-2022 4	2020-2021 12	2019-2020 7	2018-2019 4	2017-2018 8	2016-2017 7
Major Ceramic Engineering	2022-2023 8	2021-2022 15	2020-2021 8	2019-2020 21	2018-2019 16	2017-2018 12	2016-2017 19
Major Electrical Engineering	2022-2023 0	2021-2022 0	2020-2021 0	2019-2020 0	2018-2019 0	2017-2018 0	2016-2017 0
Major Glass Engineering Science	2022-2023 2	2021-2022 2	2020-2021 7	2019-2020 3	2018-2019 3	2017-2018 0	2016-2017 4
Major Materials Sci and Engineering	2022-2023 7	2021-2022 15	2020-2021 8	2019-2020 9	2018-2019 16	2017-2018 7	2016-2017 10
Major Mechanical Engineering	2022-2023 28	2021-2022 58	2020-2021 35	2019-2020 53	2018-2019 36	2017-2018 51	2016-2017 37
Major Renewable Energy Engineering	2022-2023 13	2021-2022 11	2020-2021 14	2019-2020 6	2018-2019 10	2017-2018 10	2016-2017 12
Major Total Degrees	2022-2023 61	2021-2022 105	2020-2021 84	2019-2020 99	2018-2019 85	2017-2018 88	2016-2017 89

What Will You Do?

Within the past few years, graduates have obtained jobs as:

Process Development Engineer - Greatbatch Medical
Data Analytics Engineer - FacilityConnX
Project Engineer - Kaman Composites
Lab Technician - Corning Incorporated
NDT Technician - Pratt & Whitney Amercon
Post Bachelor Research Assistant - Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Program Educational Objectives

Program educational objectives (or PEOs) are broad statements that describe what we expect graduates of AU's materials science and engineering program to attain 3-5 years after graduation. PEOs are reviewed and revised regularly to ensure that the program educational objectives are relevant to the needs of today's employers.

During the first few years after graduation, graduates will:

Be employed in materials-related industries and will continue to move into positions with both increased technical skill requirements and increased managerial responsibilities.
Be engaged in continuing their education and lifelong learning in both technical and non-technical fields including graduate studies in Materials Science and Engineering, and other science and engineering majors; MBA programs; medical school; law school or short course/workshops applicable to growth within their career.
Become leaders in the development of their professions including professional society activities, conference presentations, scholarly publications, entrepreneurship, student recruiting and mentoring.

Program Outcomes (Student Learning Outcomes)

Graduates of the Materials Science and Engineering program at Alfred University will have:

An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Faculty / Staff

All Alfred Faculty/Staff

Junjun Ding

Associate Professor of Materials Science & Engineering

Scott Misture

Inamori Professor

Steven Pilgrim

Professor of Materials Science & Engineering/Clinical Professor of Science Education

Steven Tidrow

Inamori Professor

Kun Wang

Associate Professor of Material Science & Engineering

Facilities

All Alfred Facilities

A red-brick school building with large windows is surrounded by trees and a sidewalk. People are leisurely walking under a partly cloudy sky.

Binns-Merrill Hall

Map

Modern brick building with large windows and a prominent entrance sign reading "Inamori School of Engineering." Surrounding greenery and clear blue sky create a welcoming atmosphere.

McMahon Engineering Building

Map

Scholes Library

Map

Similar Programs

Students enrolling in the Materials Science and Engineering major often bolster their education by double majoring or minoring in these other closely related fields: